Boat anchor retrieving method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a system for retrieving a deployed boat anchor, a buoyant structure is slidably attached to the anchor line by means of a snap fastener while the anchor line is slack. The boat is then moved away from the buoyant structure to take up the slack in the anchor line. Frictional drag exerted by the water on the buoyant structure prevents the structure from following the anchor line. When the anchor line is taut, the floating buoyant structure serves to redirect downward the pulling force generated by the motion of the boat. As the boat is moved further from the buoyant structure, the anchor is raised. A one-way hook on a portion of the anchor line near the anchor prevents the anchor from sinking when the boat is no longer pulling on the anchor line.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,913,514

Reynolds Oct. 21, 1975 [5 BOAT ANCHOR RETRIEVING METHOD Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix AND APPARATUS Inventor:

Filed:

Lester A. Reynolds, 911 Lehua Ave., Pearl City, Hawaii 96782 Oct. 25, 1973 Appl. No.: 409,661

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Peck et al. 43/449 Surcouf 43/172 Litchfield et al.... 114/206 R Jonkman 114/206 R Shute 114/206 R Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Frankfort Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James C. Wray In a system for retrieving a deployed boat anchor, a buoyant structure is slidably attached to the anchor line by means of a snap fastener while the anchor line is slack. The boat is then moved away from the buoyant structure to take up the slack in the anchor line. Frictional drag exerted by the water on the buoyant structure prevents the structure from following the anchor line. When the anchor line is taut, the floating buoyant structure serves to redirect downward the pulling force generated by the motion of the boat. As the boat is moved further from the buoyant structure, the anchor is raised. A one-way hook on a portion of the anchor line near the anchor prevents the anchor from sinking when the boat is no longer pulling on the anchor line.

ABSTRACT 19 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S.Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet1of2 3,913,514

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,913,514

FlG.6

FIG.7 v 52 54 BOAT ANCHOR RETRIEVING METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for retrieving deployed boat anchors. Known prior inventions employ buoyant anchor line attachments to provide resilient mooring systems and to provide'buoyant lift for deployed anchors'A need exists for a simple and inexpensive apparatus for raising boat anchors without resorting to power mergible buoys.

A collection of devices of the type known in the prior art is found in the Official United States Patent Office winches or sub Classification of Patents, particularly in class 114, subthe water. When the buoyant device hits the bottom it slides along the anchor shaft. Further movement of the boat frees the anchor, and the buoyant device lifts the anchor to the surface where it maybe recovered.

In US. Pat. No. 3,407,775,41 combination of a winch and forward motion of a boat are employed to pull a deployed anchor. I i i In US, Pat. No. 3,726,247, a buoy and a sinker are attached at different places on an anchor lineto provide a resilient mooring.

A need exists foran inexpensive system for retrieving anchors which can be used by all boat owners. The system must harness'a source of power su'fficient to dislodge a heavy boat anchor from the bottoms of bodies of water and raise the anchor in su'ch a way that it can be recovered and placed in or on the boat.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The' present invention concerns an apparatus and method for raising and retrieving deployed boat a'nchors attached to a boat by an anchor line. In the invention a buoyant structure is slidably attached to the anchor line while the anchor line is slack. The anchor line is then pulled taut, and the floating buoyant structure serves to redirect the pulling force downward to raise the anchor from the bottom.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for raising and retrieving a' deployed anchor comprised of several sequential steps. First, the boat is moved to a position almost directly above the deployed anchor. This movement slackens the anchor line. The buoyant structure is then slidably attached to the anchor line and floated on the water. Theboat is moved to a point distant from the point directly above the dejployed anchor. The-buoyantstructu're tends to remain structureand anchor. This may be accomplished by the hand over hand method or be a small power winch. In another form of the invention, the anchor line is equipped with a unidirectional detent which engages the means attaching the anchor line to'the buoyant structure and prevents the anchor 'from dropping to the bottom when the force on the anchor line isrelieved. This permits the boat to move back toward the buoyant structure after the anchor is raisedJThe anchor and buoyant structure can then be lifted directly into the boat. a

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the buoyant structure consists of an inflated floatation device and a tethering line. The floatation device'is of sufficiently great dimensions to exert a buoyant force greater than any expected vertical force necessary to dislodge the anchor from the bottom. Thus, thebuoyant structure is capable of remaining afloat during the entire operation of retrieving the anchor. The floatation device is also dimensioned to provide sufficient frictional dragging force when placed in the water, so that the buoyant structure is not-pulled out of position as the anchor line is drawn taut. This requires a frictional drag force equal to or exceeding the opposing frictional force exerted by the sliding of the anchor line through'the attachment means.

In 'a preferred'embodiment, the means for attaching the anchor line to the buoyant structure is an annulus attached to the tethering line. The anchor line passes through the centralaperture in the'annulus. In one configuration, the annulus takes the form of .a springloaded snap-fastener; whereby the buoyant structure maybe attached to the anchor line by encircling the anchor with the snap-fastener. This operation can be performed immediately priorto pulling the anchor line and eliminates themecessity of detaching the anchor line from the boat to connect the buoyant structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theanchor line-isequipped with a unidirectional detent which takes the form of a one-way hookjThe one-way hook is fixed toa portion of t-heanchor line near the anchor. The one -way'hoo'kpermits the annulus to move toward the anchor along the anchor line, but prevents the annulus moving away from the anchor along'the anchor line'once the annulushas passed the one-way hook.

In one form of the present invention, the one-way hook is formed from a'hollow, tubular member. The anchor line passes through the hollow center region of a first portion of the tubular member. "A means for attaching the anchor line to the first portion ofthe tubular me'mberc'onstraihs the one'way hook to remain in a fixed position on the anchor line. A second portion of the tubular member is bent at an obtuse angle with 1 respect to the first portion. The anchor line exits the hollow, longitudinal center region of the first portion In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the anchor line is attached to the first portion of the tu-'- bular member by a structure of the tubular member which engages an enlargement in the anchor line. In one form, the enlargement in the anchor line is a knot in the anchor line. A screwable annular constriction is removably attached to the end of the first portion of the tubular member on the end of the tubular structure adjacent to the portion of the anchor line traveling toward the boat. The central opening in the annular constriction is formed smaller than the knot to prevent the knot from moving out of the tubular member toward the boat. The aperture in the second portion of the tubular member is made of such dimensions that the knot cannot pass through it. The combination of the annular constriction and aperture serve to engage the knot within the first portions of the tubular member. The position of the one-way hook on the anchor line is easily adjusted by removing the annular constriction, retying the knot at another location, and replacing the annular constriction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical method for retrieving a deployed boat anchor by employing the motive power of the boat to raise the anchor from the bottom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive apparatus for retrieving a deployed boat anchor employing a floating buoyant structure to redirect a force applied to pull the anchor line."

Another object of the present invention i's to provide an easily fabricated, one-way book which can be attached to a flexible, elongated member to prevent motion along the elongated member in one direction.

These and other objects and features of the invention are apparent from the disclosure, which includes the specification with the foregoing and ongoing description and with the claims, and which includes the drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevationof the buoyant, structure employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the one-way hook employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the oneway hook depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the one-way hook and buoyant structure of the present invention showing a mode of operation of the hook.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 4 showing a second mode of operation of the hook.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are sequential diagrams showing successive stages of retrieving a deployed boat anchor which occur during the employment of the method of the present invention. The figures also contain sche- 'matic representations of the forces exerted on the buoyant structure during each stage.

FIG. 6 shows the locations of boat, anchor, and buoyant structure during a preliminary stage in the performance of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the locations of boat, anchor, anchor line, and buoyant structure as the anchor begins to be raised from the bottom.

FIG. 8 shows the locations of boat, anchor, anchor line, and buoyant structure as the anchor is raised to a position near the surface of the water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. I,- a buoyant structure is denoted generally by the numeral 2. A floatation device 4 is attached to an annular member6 by tethering line 12. The tethering line in a preferred embodiment is approximately three feetlong. An anchor line 16 passes through the annular member as shown. The floatation device is of such dimensions that it is capable of exerting an upward force on the anchor line equal to or greater than any force anticipated to be necessary to dislodge the anchor from the bottom. The buoyant structure is designed to experience a frictional drag fromthe water sufficient to constrain the structure to float in a fixed position while slack anchor line is drawn through the annular member.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the annular member is a snap-fastener 8 with a spring loaded arm 10. In this configuration, the buoyant structure can be snapped onto the anchor line prior to lifting the anchor.

present invention. The hook is denoted generally by the numeral 14. A hollow tubular member 24 is bent at an obtuse angle at 18 to form a-first portion 20 parallel to the anchor line 16 and a second portion 22 at an oblique angle to the first portion. The second portion 22 and a segment of the anchor line traveling to the anchor 23 lie along an acute angle 30 forming a hook. An annular constriction 28 is screwed onto the tubular member 24.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional elevation of the oneway hook depicted in FIG. 2. The anchor line 16 passes through the annular constriction 28 into thefirst per tion 20 of the tubular member. The anchor line passes out of the tubular member through aperture 26 in the wall of the tubular member. A knot 34 in the anchor line is constrained to remain inside the tubular member by the annular constriction 28 and the aperture 26 in the tubular member. I

The annular constriction is removably attached to the member by means of threads 36 on the annular constriction and corresponding threads 38 on an end of the first portion of the tubular member.

The annular constriction is formed with a tapered nose 40 which can be partially cut away so that the constriction will accomodate larger diameter anchor line.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the one-way hook when the buoyant structure is moving along the anchor line toward the anchor as indicated by the arrow 104.

The annular member 6, freely slides from rope segment 100, over the one way hook 14, and onto a second rope segment 102.

FIG/5 shows the blocking of the buoyant structure as it moves in a direction away from the anchor as indicated by the arrow 106. The annular member 6 is caught in the acute angle hook formed by the intersection of the second portion 22 of the tubular member and anchor line segment 102.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show sequential steps in the performance of a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the buoyant structure 44 has been floated on the surface of the water 46, and the anchor line 52 FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the one-way book of the is being drawn through the annular member 54 by the motion of the boat 42. The anchor 50 is deployed on the bottom 48 of the body of the water. The diagram of the forces exerted on the buoyant structure is de' noted generally by the numeral 58. The arrow 60 represents the frictional force of the anchor line passing through the annular member. This force is counterbalanced by the frictional dragging force of the water represented by arrow 62.

In FIG. 7, the anchor line 52 has been drawn taut and is exerting a lifting force on the anchor 50. The buoyant structure 44 serves to redirect vertically the longitudinal force created by the motion of the boat. A diagram of the forces exerted on the buoyant structure is denoted by the numeral 64. Arrow 66 represents the buoyant force of float 44. Arrow 68 is indicative of the force exerted by the motion of the boat. Arrow 70 indicates a downward force which equals the sum of the weight of the anchor and the resistive forces tending to secure the anchor to the bottom. Arrow 72 represents the frictional dragging force of the water on the buoyant structure. The vector sum of these four forces is on the buoyant structure is denoted generally by the numeral 74. Arrow 76 represents the buoyant force of buoyant structure, and arrow 80 represents the weight of the anchor. Arrow 78 represents the frictional force exerted by the anchor chain sliding through the annular member, and arrow 82 represents the counterbalancing frictional dragging force of the water.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be obvious that modifications and variations may be constructed without departing from'the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is described in the following claims.

I claim: 1. A method of retrieving a deployed anchor attached to a boat by an anchor line comprising attaching a buoyant structure to the anchor line so that the buoyant structure is free to slide along said anchor line, attaching a unidirectional detent to a portion of the anchor line near the anchor prior to dropping the anchor, which attaching is done to place the detent in an orientation in which the buoyant structure is free to pass over the detent when the buoyant structure is moving along the anchor line toward the anchor and in which the buoyant structure is prevented from passing over the detent in a reverse direction; whereby, the anchor is prevented from dropping once it' has been raised, moving the boat to a position near a point on a body of water directly above the deployed anchor so that the anchor line is slack, floating the buoyant structure on the body of water,

and 7 moving the boat to a position distant from the point directly above the deployed anchor, thereby subjecting the buoyant structure to frictional drag from the 'water, sliding the buoyant structure along the anchor line toward the deployed anchor; and drawing the deployed anchor upward toward the buoyant structure;

whereby, the anchor is raised from a point of deployment in the body of water.

2. The method of retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 1 wherein the attaching of the buoyant structure to the anchor line is accomplished by encircling the anchor line with a removable snap fastener attached to the buoyant structure.

3. The method of retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 1 further comprising drawing the raised anchor, anchor line and buoyant structure to the boat by hauling the anchor line into the boat.

4. The method of retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 1 further comprising the recovering of the raised anchor, anchor line, and buoyant structure by moving the boat to a position in proximity to the raised anchor,

' lifting the anchor into the boat, and hauling slack anchor line into the boat.

5. An apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor attached to a boat by an anchor line comprising a buoyant structure, floated above the deployed anchor in a body of water, which buoyant structure exerts an upward buoyant force greater than a downward force which is a sum of a weight of the anchor and a resistive force tending to secure the anchor to a bottom of the body of water, and which buoyant structure experiences a frictional dragging force of water sufficient to maintain the buoyant structure at a fixed position on the water,

a means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line so that the buoyant structure is free to slide along the anchor line, and so that the frictional dragging force of the buoyant structure is sufficient to maintain the buoyant structure in a nearly fixed position in the water while the anchor line is drawn through the means for attaching the buoyant structure, and

a means for applying a drawing force on the anchor line remote from the buoyant structure, which means exerts sufficient force on the anchor line to raise the anchor from the bottom by drawing the anchor line through thefmeans slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line;

further comprising a unidirectional detent attached to the anchor line near the anchor prior to dropping anchor, which unidirectional detent permits the means for slidably. attaching the buoyant structure to slide along the anchor line toward the anchor and which unidirectional detent prevents the means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure from moving past said unidirectional detent in a reverse direction, whereby, a raised anchor is constrained to remain near the buoyant structure when the drawing force on the anchor line is terminated,

whereby, the buoyant structure and means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line redirect the drawing force on the anchor line so that it is applied to the deployed anchor in a generally upward direction.

6. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 5 wherein the means for applying a drawing force on the anchor line is a powered boat to which the anchor line is attached, which boat applies the drawing force on the anchor line by moving away from the buoyant structure and deployed anchor,

7. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim wherein the means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line is a removable snap fastener which encircles the anchor line.

8. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 5 wherein the means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line is an annular member attached to" the buoyant structure and encircling the anchor line.

9. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 8 wherein the unidirectional detent is a one-way hook over which the annular member may pass when I the annular member is sliding toward the anchor, and by which the annular member is caught when the annular member is sliding away from the anchor.

10. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 9 wherein the one-way hook is a hollow, tubular member comprising a first portion of the tubular member through which the anchor linepasses,

a means for attaching the anchor line to the first portion of the tubular member so that a segment of the anchor line is constrained to remain within a hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the v tubular member, and

i a' second portion of the tubular member bent at an I obtuse angle with respect to the first portion, which second portion is formed with an aperture in its wall through which a segment of the anchor line closest to the anchor exits the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member;

whereby, the annular member is free to pass over the first and second portions of the tubular member when sliding along the anchor line toward the anchor, and is prevented from passing over the tubular member in a reverse direction by an acute angle hook formed by an intersection of the second portion of the tubular member and a segment of the anchor line closest to the anchor.

l1. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 10 wherein the means for attaching the anchor line to the first portion of the tubular member com- 1 prises an annular constriction, removably attached to the first portion of the tubular member, which annular constriction narrows the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member through which the anchor line passes, and

an enlargement in'the anchor line of a dimension larger than a central opening in the annular constriction and larger than the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, which enlargement is located inside the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member between the annular constriction and the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, so that the enlargement is constrained to remain within the hollow longitudinal region. P 12. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 11 wherein the enlargement in the anchor line is a knot in the anchor line.

13. The apparatus for retrieving a of claim 11 wherein the annular constriction is formed with threads and the first portion of thetubular member is formed with corresponding threads so that the deployed anchor annular constriction may .be screwed onto the tubular member. T Y

14. The apparatus for retrievingfia deployed anchor of claim 11 wherein the central opening in the annular constriction is adjustable to accornodate anchor lines of different thicknesses.

15. A unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus comprising i I an anchor,

a flexible elongated anchor line member having a first end connected to the anchor and having a second end,

a boat having means secured to the second end,

an annular member, slidably mounted on the flexible elongated anchor line member so that the annular member encirclesthe elongated member, and

a one-way hook formed from a hollow tubular member wherein the one-way hook further comprises a. a first portion of the tubular member through which the flexible elongated member passes,

-b. a means for attaching the flexible elongated member to the first portion of the tubular member so that a segment of the elongated member is constrained to remain within a hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member, and i a second portion of the tubular member bent at an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion, which second portion is formed with an aperture in its wall through which a segment of the elongated member exitsthe hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member; whereby, the annular member is free to pass over the first and second portions of the tubular member when sliding along the flexible, elongated member in one direction, and is prevented from passing over the tubular member .in a reverse direction by an acute angle hook formed by an intersection of the second portion of the tubular member and a segment of the flexible, elongated member. 1

16. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for attaching the flexible elongated member to the first portion of the tubular member comprises an annular constriction, removably attached to the first portion of the tubular member, which annular constriction narrows the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member through which the flexible, elongated member passes, and

an enlargement in the flexible, elongated member of a dimension larger than a central opening in the annular constriction and larger than the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, which enlargement is located inside the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member between the annular constriction and the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, so that the enlargement is constrained to remain within the hollow longitudinal region. 17. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 16 wherein the enlargement in the flexible, elongated member is a knot in the flexible, elongated member. i

18. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 16 wherein the annular constriction is ratus of claim 16 wherein the central opening in the annular constriction is adjustable to accomodate flexible,

elongated members of different thicknesses. 

1. A method of retrieving a deployed anchor attached to a boat by an anchor line comprising attaching a buoyant structure to the anchor line so that the buoyant structure is free to slide along said anchor line, attaching a unidirectional detent to a portion of the anchor line near the anchor prior to dropping the anchor, which attaching is done to place the detent in an orientation in which the buoyant structure is free to pass over the detent when the buoyant structure is moving along the anchor line toward the anchor and in which the buoyant structure is prevented from passing over the detent in a reverse direction; whereby, the anchor is prevented from dropping once it has been raised, moving the boat to a position near a point on a body of water directly above the deployed anchor so that the anchor line is slack, floating the buoyant structure on the body of water, and moving the boat to a position distant from the point directly above the deployed anchor, thereby subjecting the buoyant structure to frictional drag from the water, sliding the buoyant structure along the anchor line toward the deployed anchor; and drawing the deployed anchor upward toward the buoyant structure; whereby, the anchor is raised from a point of deployment in the body of water.
 2. The method of retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 1 wherein the attaching of the buoyant structure to the anchor line is accomplished by encircling the anchor line with a removable snap fastener attached to the buoyant structure.
 3. The method of retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 1 further comprising drawing the raised anchor, anchor line and buoyant structure to the boat by hauling the anchor line into the boat.
 4. The method of retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 1 further comprising the recovering of the raised anchor, anchor line, and buoyant structure by moving the boat to a position in proximity to the raised anchor, lifting the anchor into the boat, and hauling slack anchor line into the boat.
 5. An apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor attached to a boat by an anchor line comprising a buoyant structure, floated above the deployed anchor in a body of water, which buoyant structure exerts an upward buoyant force greater than a downward force which is a sum of a weight of the anchor and a resistive force tending to secure the anchor to a bottom of the body of water, and which buoyant structure experiences a frictional dragging force of water sufficient to maintain the buoyant structure at a fixed position on the water, a means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line so that the buoyant structure is free to slide along the anchor line, and so that the frictional dragging force of the buoyant structure is sufficient to maintain the buoyant structure in a nearly fixed position in the water while the anchor line is drawn through the means for attaching the buoyant structure, and a means for applying a drawing force on the anchor line remote from the buoyant structure, which means exerts sufficient force on the anchor line to raise the anchor from the bottom by drawing the anchor line through the means slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line; further comprising a unidirectional detent attached to the anchor line near the anchor prior to dropping anchor, which unidirectional detent permits the means fOr slidably attaching the buoyant structure to slide along the anchor line toward the anchor and which unidirectional detent prevents the means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure from moving past said unidirectional detent in a reverse direction; whereby, a raised anchor is constrained to remain near the buoyant structure when the drawing force on the anchor line is terminated, whereby, the buoyant structure and means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line redirect the drawing force on the anchor line so that it is applied to the deployed anchor in a generally upward direction.
 6. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 5 wherein the means for applying a drawing force on the anchor line is a powered boat to which the anchor line is attached, which boat applies the drawing force on the anchor line by moving away from the buoyant structure and deployed anchor.
 7. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 5 wherein the means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line is a removable snap fastener which encircles the anchor line.
 8. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 5 wherein the means for slidably attaching the buoyant structure to the anchor line is an annular member attached to the buoyant structure and encircling the anchor line.
 9. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 8 wherein the unidirectional detent is a one-way hook over which the annular member may pass when the annular member is sliding toward the anchor, and by which the annular member is caught when the annular member is sliding away from the anchor.
 10. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 9 wherein the one-way hook is a hollow, tubular member comprising a first portion of the tubular member through which the anchor line passes, a means for attaching the anchor line to the first portion of the tubular member so that a segment of the anchor line is constrained to remain within a hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member, and a second portion of the tubular member bent at an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion, which second portion is formed with an aperture in its wall through which a segment of the anchor line closest to the anchor exits the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member; whereby, the annular member is free to pass over the first and second portions of the tubular member when sliding along the anchor line toward the anchor, and is prevented from passing over the tubular member in a reverse direction by an acute angle hook formed by an intersection of the second portion of the tubular member and a segment of the anchor line closest to the anchor.
 11. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 10 wherein the means for attaching the anchor line to the first portion of the tubular member comprises an annular constriction, removably attached to the first portion of the tubular member, which annular constriction narrows the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member through which the anchor line passes, and an enlargement in the anchor line of a dimension larger than a central opening in the annular constriction and larger than the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, which enlargement is located inside the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member between the annular constriction and the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, so that the enlargement is constrained to remain within the hollow longitudinal region.
 12. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 11 wherein the enlargement in the anchor line is a knot in the anchor line.
 13. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 11 wherein the annular constriction is formed with threads and the first portion of the tubular member is formed wiTh corresponding threads so that the annular constriction may be screwed onto the tubular member.
 14. The apparatus for retrieving a deployed anchor of claim 11 wherein the central opening in the annular constriction is adjustable to accomodate anchor lines of different thicknesses.
 15. A unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus comprising an anchor, a flexible elongated anchor line member having a first end connected to the anchor and having a second end, a boat having means secured to the second end, an annular member, slidably mounted on the flexible elongated anchor line member so that the annular member encircles the elongated member, and a one-way hook formed from a hollow tubular member wherein the one-way hook further comprises a. a first portion of the tubular member through which the flexible elongated member passes, b. a means for attaching the flexible elongated member to the first portion of the tubular member so that a segment of the elongated member is constrained to remain within a hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member, and c. a second portion of the tubular member bent at an obtuse angle with respect to the first portion, which second portion is formed with an aperture in its wall through which a segment of the elongated member exits the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member; whereby, the annular member is free to pass over the first and second portions of the tubular member when sliding along the flexible, elongated member in one direction, and is prevented from passing over the tubular member in a reverse direction by an acute angle hook formed by an intersection of the second portion of the tubular member and a segment of the flexible, elongated member.
 16. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for attaching the flexible elongated member to the first portion of the tubular member comprises an annular constriction, removably attached to the first portion of the tubular member, which annular constriction narrows the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member through which the flexible, elongated member passes, and an enlargement in the flexible, elongated member of a dimension larger than a central opening in the annular constriction and larger than the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, which enlargement is located inside the hollow longitudinal region in the first portion of the tubular member between the annular constriction and the aperture formed in the second portion of the tubular member, so that the enlargement is constrained to remain within the hollow longitudinal region.
 17. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 16 wherein the enlargement in the flexible, elongated member is a knot in the flexible, elongated member.
 18. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 16 wherein the annular constriction is formed with threads and the first portion of the tubular member is formed with corresponding threads so that the annular constriction may be screwed onto the tubular member.
 19. The unidirectional detent anchor retrieving apparatus of claim 16 wherein the central opening in the annular constriction is adjustable to accomodate flexible, elongated members of different thicknesses. 